Tank gauge



IN VENTOR.

C. W. ASHLEY TANK GAUGE Filed Sept. 18, 1959 Cec z'Z MA s/zley BY c .wJ

I :W F

May 12, 1942.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TANK GAUGE Cecil W. Ashley, El Centro, Calif. Application September 18, 1939, Serial No. 295,433

4 Claims.

My invention. relates to a tank gauge, more particularly for use in connection with under ground gasoline tanks or the like, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a tank gauge of this class which is adapted to be positioned in a conventional tank fill pipe; Fifth, to provide a tank gauge of this class in which the gauge member is provided with a retainer spring adapted to stop the upward movement of the gauge member when the. tank fill pipe cap is not in place;

Sixth, to provide a tank gauge of this class in which the upper end of the gauge member is arranged to be surrounded by the hose nozzle when it is inserted in the fill pipe for supplying the tank; and v Seventh, to provide a tank gauge of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, efficient in its action and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of a reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top or plan view of my tank gaugeshowing by dash lines a varying position of the gauge member retainer cover; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing parts in elevation to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary to that of Fig. 2 shown with the cap removed'and the retainer spring in engagement with the gauge member and showing by dash lines a supply hose nozzle positioned over the gauge member.

' Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing:

The tank I, pipe 2, collar 3, cap 4, gauge member- 5, fioatB, retainer spring I, cover 8, combined sleeve and guide member support Byguide members I0, ll, l2 and I3 and support [4 constitute the principal partseand portions of my tank gauge. 1

The tank I may be of any conventional type and is provided with an opening la in its upper side around which is'secured the lower end of the pipe 2. This pipe 2 may be secured to the tank I in the conventional manner by welding, brazing or otherwise. Positioned on the pipe 2 near its upper end is a collar 3: This collar 3' is rigidly secured to the pipe 2 and is adapted to support the cap 4 which is screw threaded on the upper end of the pipe 2. The collar 3 is providedwith outwardly extending lug portions 3a as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The cap 4 is provided with a downwardly extending hollow cylindrical'portion 4a in which the gauge member 5 is reciprocally mounted. When'this cap 4 is in the position as shown in Fig. 2, the downwardly extending portion 4a at its lower edge 41] engages the retainer spring 1 holding it out of, engagement with the gauge member '5 which is provided with a recessed portion 5a. in which said retainer spring I is adapted to fit at its end portion 1a. The cover 8 is revolubly mounted on the cap 4 by means of the rivet 8a. as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. This cover 8 is provided with an upwardly extending lug portion 8!), as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing which serves as a hand hold. The combined sleeve and guide member suport 9 is hollow and cylindrical in shape and is pressed into the upper end of the pipe 2 and is provided with an angular flange portion 9a at its upper end and is secured to the guide members I 0, ll, l2 and H at its lower end by means of the rivets 9b. The guide member ID is substantially flat and rectangular in cross section and is provided with an angularly extending end portion [0a at its upper end in which the gauge member 5 is reciprocally mounted, as shown best in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Secured to the guide member ID adjacent the upper side of the support I4 is an angularly extending bracket 10b in which the gauge member 5 is also reciprocally mounted as .shown best in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing The guide members [0, ll I2 and I3 are secured on the outer side of the support 14 by means of the rivets l4a. These guide members l0, H, I 2 and I3 extend downwardly near the bottom of the tank I and are provided with curved end portions Hie, Ha, I20, and l3a as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing. These guide members H), II, l2 and I3 guide the float 6 as it reciprocates upwardly and downwardly in the tank I.

It will be noted that the gauge member 5, at its lower end, is provided with a plurality of holes 52), which are arranged to engage rivets in the bracket members 6a and 6b which are secured to the upper side of the float 6 as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing it being necessary to cut off the lower end of the gauge member 5. This construction permits adjustment of the float 6 relative to the gauge member which is pro vided with a graduated scale Econ its one side at its upper end.

The operation of my tank gauge is substansponding level with the liquidin the tank. The

amount of liquid in the tank may' be'determined by'the graduated scale 50 on the gauge member 5 as it protrudes above the upper side ofthe icap 4. The gauge member then may be pressed downwardly and secured in place by means of the cover 8. When "the cap 4 is removed from the pipe 2, the lower edge 4b of the downwardly extending portion 4a is out of engagement with the retainer spring I permitting it to shift into the position as shown in Fig. 5 engaging and stopping the upward movement of the gauge member {5. A conventional supply nozzle, shown bydash lines B in 'Fig. 5 may be inserted in the upper'end of the Mimi and overthe gauge member 5 whenit is desired to supply the tank I with more liquid. When the supply of liquid has been replenished in the tank I, the cap 4 is replaced to the position as shownin Fig. 2 and a 'padlock A is secured in one of the holes Mr-of the cap 4, thereby preventing the cap 4 from being turned "and unscrewe'dftrom the pipe 2, it being noted that if thecap 4 is turned a short distance, the padlock A will engage one ofthe lugs 3a of the collar}. 4

Though I have shown 'anddescribed a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and'portio'nsfI do-not wish to be limited to this particularconstruction, combination and arrangement, but'desire to in-clude in the-scope of my "inventionthe construction, combination and'arrangemerit substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a tank gauge of the class described, the combination of a liquid tank provided with 2.

vertical fill pipe, of a sleeve support secured in the upper end of said fill pipe, a plurality of float guide members secured thereto and extending downwardly to near the bottom of the tank, a float reciprocably mounted in said guide members, a rigid gauge member secured to said float and extending upwardly centrally in said sleeve support, a cap secured over said sleeve support and provided with a central opening in which said gauge member is reciprocably mounted, a cover member mounted on said cap and arranged to be shifted over said opening for said gauge member, said cap being provided with a downwardly extending guide portion and a retainer member when said cap is removed.

2.-In' a tank gauge of the class described, the combination with a liquid tank and vertically positioned filler pipe, of a sleeve support rigidly secured in the upper end of said filler pipe, a screw cap threaded on the upper end of said filler pipe and provided with a central opening and a downwardly extending guide portion, a rigid gauge member reciprocably mounted in said guide fportion, afloat secured onthe lower end of said gauge member, means secured to said sleeve sup- .port for guiding said float in said tank, a cover pivotally mounted on said cap and arranged to be shifted over the opening therein for holding said gauge member in a depressed position and means for latching said gauge member in a depressed position when the cap is removed.

3. 'Ina tank gauge of the class described, the combinationwith 'a liquid tank and vertically positioned filler pipe, of a sleeve support rigidly secured in the upper end of said filler pipe, a screw cap threaded on the upper end of said filler pipe and provided with a central opening and a downwardly extending guide portion, a rigid gauge member reciprocably mounted in said guide portion, a float secured on the lower end of said gauge member, and means secured to said sleeve support for guiding said float insaid tank, and

meansior latching said gauge in depressed position when said cap is removed. "4.1m a tank gauge of the class described, the combination with a liquid tank provided with a vertical ffill 13ipe,'of a combined sleeve and guide member support secured in theupper end of said fill pipe, 'a-"plurality 'of separate resilient-float guide 'm'emb'ers secured to said combined sleeve and guide member and extending'downwa'rdlyto near thebottom ofthe tank, a float reciprocably mounted in said guide members, a rigid gauge member secured to said float and extending .upwardly' centrally "in said combined sleeve and guide member support, a cap secured over said combined sleeve and guide member support and provided with a, central opening .in which said gauge member is reciprocably mounted, and a cover member mounted on said cap and arranged to beshifted over-said opening.

.. CECIL W. ASHLEY. 

